Copying Fechin: Linear Placement, Convention and Calligraphy (Part 1) with Dan Thompson on YouTube

This video tutorial, part 1 of 2, is from my "An Evening in the Studio" series on Patreon.com/danthompsonart. The lesson was filmed while I created my replica of a Nicolai Fechin (1881-1955) figure drawing. I drew this copy in both vine as well as compressed charcoal, in order to first emulate, and climactically learn from, a host of remarkable characteristics which embody Fechin’s original drawing.

After beginning the tutorial with an overview of my working materials, advise you to become ever more mindful of the paper’s edges, which not only limit the expansiveness of your drawing’s marks, but may hinder the formulation of a dependable design framework. I describe treating the inherent areas of “tension” in order to better capture and format any gestural thrusts of a human figure within your composition. We then address the visual noise of vine charcoal, its miraculously forgiving disposition, and some important questions on relating accents in this (or any) drawing mastercopy.

Ultimately, our vine charcoal establishes the image, enabling our exploration, which ventures into notions of conventionalizing & aestheticizing the human body. I used the following drawing materials in this video:

1, Nitram Académie Fusains vine charcoal, in the grade of “H”

2, Jack Richeson Blending Stomp(s), double-pointed, Size 3

3, Fabriano Toned Paper Pad, 8.25 x 11.75, Clay

4, BBB Wolff’s Carbon Drawing Pencils (compressed charcoal)

5, Conté à Paris Sketching Pencils, #3, #2, #1

6, A kneaded eraser and a genuine, suede chamois (for erasing)

Thank you for watching - I look forward to your feedback.